Which place is cheaper, Nikko or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Nikko?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Nikko? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: El Nido or Nikko?
El Nido
El Nido is a coastal destination on the Philippine island of Palawan. It consists of about 45 islands and islets all with beautiful beachfront scenery and plenty of opportunities for experiencing nature above and below the water. Some of the island's best features include limestone karst cliffs, coral reefs, lagoons, coves, and waterfalls.
Nikko
Nikko is a small Japanese city located in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is well-known for the site of Toshogu, a famed Shinto shrine established in 1617, in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the founding ruler of the Edo Period. The town is situated just outside of Nikko National Park which offers scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and hiking trails.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Nikko $89
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Nikko is $89. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for El Nido and Nikko in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Nikko $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Nikko $100
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Nikko
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Nikko? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: El Nido Hotel Prices and Nikko Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Nikko -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $201
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $46
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nikko
Also for Nikko, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to/from Narita Airport (NRT): $683
- Kinugawa Osen to Tokyo Narita Airport Private Departure Transfer: $272
- Kinugawa Osen to Tokyo Haneda Airport Departure Private Transfer: $272
- Haneda Airport to/from Nikko City Private Transfer: $683
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Nikko?
Prices for flights to both Nikko and El Nido change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayEl Nido $12Nikko $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Nikko $23
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $45
- All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
- Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $134
- Private Island Hopping Tour B: $137
- Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $137
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $27
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $29
- El Nido Big Lagoon & Tropical Island Private Tour: $199
- El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $48
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour ( Private & All-Inclusive ): $170
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $28
Tours and Activities in Nikko
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nikko.
- 1 Day Nikko Wonders Tour from Tokyo: $469
- Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura Admission Ticket: $64
- From Tokyo : Nikko Full Day Private Sightseeing Tour: $493
- From Tokyo: Custom Nikko Day Tour with English Driver Flexib: $406
- From Tokyo: Nikko 1 Day Private Tour with English Driver: $499
- From Tokyo: Nikko Full Day Private Sightseeing Tour: $408
- From Tokyo: Nikko Full-Day Sightseeing Trip: $434
- From Tokyo: Nikko Tour with Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Falls: $408
- From Tokyo: Nikko World Heritage & Edo Wonderland Day Tour: $431
- From Tokyo; Nikko Private Full Day Tour Hotel Pick-Up By Car: $408
- From tokyo: Nikko Full-Day private Sightseeing Day Trip: $528
- Full-Day Private Nikko Tour with English Speaking Driver: $528
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Nikko $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Nikko, we can see that Nikko is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Nido would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Nido and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Nikko would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nikko than you might in El Nido.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is El Nido Expensive? and Is Nikko Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Nikko?
Nikko has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Nikko, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.